Chapter 2

Leaving my surprised aunt behind, I ran towards the crowd. Even in the high heels I don’t usually wear, I managed to run carefully!

While I was thinking about this, a famous line could be heard.

“You’ve been abusing your younger brother, Kurt, out of jealousy, haven’t you!? Someone as foolish as you is not fit to be the consort of the future queen of this country!”

As I pushed through the crowd, I could see the princess glaring at Lord Theodor and her cheating partner, Kurt, who looked sad beside her.

Kurt, with his hand around the princess’s waist, started saying, “Brother, why are you doing this…? I just wanted to get along with you.”

No, no, what is this silver-haired guy talking about?

It’s impossible to get along with your fiancée’s cheating partner, right!?

The princess and Kurt, who were openly cheating, looked triumphant. Watching them, even I, an outsider, felt uncomfortable.

But it’s okay!

Because in the story of the villainous lady, it’s interesting to start a counterattack from here. Come on, villainous lord Theodor, raise your head and fight back!

However, Theodor didn’t raise his head no matter how long I waited.

After a while, a faint, almost inaudible voice said, “...I accept the annulment of the engagement.”

The princess and Kurt, who had pushed for the annulment of Theodor’s engagement, were holding hands and rejoicing.

“Haha, Theodor has admitted his guilt! Now I can be with my beloved Kurt! This is the victory of true love!”

What? What? Isn’t the princess’s statement dangerous?

Is this reality? This kind of absurd situation is only accepted in novels, and even in novels, it’s not accepted...

The princess was shouting, “Guards, arrest the criminal Theodor!”

No, no, it’s not right for the princess to treat the duke’s son as a criminal based on her own judgment!

Yet, Theodor showed no sign of resistance.

The nobles around me looked confused, but their faces clearly said, “I don’t want to get involved.”

The castle guards, looking troubled, cautiously approached Theodor. Yes, you must be troubled too.

No matter how long I waited, no one came to help Theodor, who had been made the villainous lord.

Well, in the novels, the second prince, a prince from a neighboring country, a slightly wild border lord, or his daughter would appear and save the day...

Please, second princess, princess from a neighboring country, a slightly wild female border lord, or her daughter, come and save Theodor quickly!

Wait, I’m a border lord’s daughter too, right?

No, I don’t have any wild elements.

While I was thinking about this, the princess was hysterically shouting, “What are you doing!? Arrest Theodor quickly!”

A troubled guard tried to grab Theodor’s arm.

Ah, no! If you follow such a crazy order and lay hands on the duke’s son, what will happen to you later! You have a family to protect, don’t you!?

Having no choice, I stepped forward from the crowd and stopped the guard.

“Y-You’d better not...”

When I whispered this, the guard was startled and looked up.

No, no, don’t look at me with eyes like you’re seeing a savior.

When the princess asked, “What a strange face, who are you?” I tried my best to perform the lady’s bow I had practiced. Please forgive me if my legs are trembling from nervousness.

“I, I am the daughter of the Baron of Bargoa...”

“What!? I can’t hear you!”

Oh, the princess’s face is too scary. Kurt, who was standing next to her, was glaring at me with a murderous look.

Oh, to step forward in such a situation, I needed so much courage. It’s an exciting scene in novels, but it’s too much for me. Moreover, I can’t coolly help the villainous lord from here!

Just then, a familiar voice echoed in the room.

“This is Cynthia, the daughter of the Baron of Bargoa.”

I saw my aunt standing up to the princess confidently.

“Bargoa?!”

A murmur spread through the crowd.

“Is it the Bargoa territory?”

“The vast land and the strongest army in the country, the Bargoa territory!”

No, no, there’s a misunderstanding. It’s just a boring countryside with nothing to do.

Theodor, who had been looking down, slowly raised his head and looked at me.

His eyes were hollow and lifeless.

“A-Are you okay?”

As I reached out to Theodor, Kurt suddenly grabbed my arm.

What? Wasn’t he glaring at me like he wanted to kill me just a moment ago?

What is this creepy guy...? As I thought this, the princess was glaring at me with a terrifying look.

“...Kurt, what do you mean?”

“Oh, Angelica, are you jealous? I only love you, Angelica.”

“Really?”

Suddenly, the princess and Kurt were in their own world.

I took the opportunity to pull on Theodor’s sleeve.

“Lord Theodor, let’s escape now.”

“But I can’t cause you any more trouble... Please don’t worry about me. I’m already tired.”

His frail sigh made my heart tighten.

What is this feeling! I’ve never felt this way before.

“I, I don’t know the details, but my mother said cheating is wrong. So it’s not right for Theodor to be treated as a criminal.”

Theodor only smiled sadly and didn’t move from the spot.

“I can’t cause you any more trouble.”

That’s true, but... Ah, what did they do in the novels?

Ah, yes, I proposed to him.

I performed the lady’s bow again and looked into Theodor’s beautiful eyes.

“Lord Theodor, will you marry me?”

The ballroom buzzed with excitement again.

Theodor’s red eyes widened.

“W-Why?”

“Well, um, I... I fell in love at first sight?”

When Theodor heard this, he laughed softly for the first time.

The power of that smile! My heart felt like it was going to burst from the excitement.

“Lady Cynthia, you are so kind.”

Theodor placed his right hand on his chest and looked at me gently.

“I gladly accept your proposal.”

Cheers and applause filled the room.

Amidst this, the princess’s voice could be heard, “What!? Theodor is my fiancé!”

Wait, didn’t she just push for the annulment of the engagement?

Sighing, Theodor placed his hand on my shoulder gently. His voice in my ear was so good.

“Please allow me to touch you just a little, Lady Cynthia.”

“Y-Yes.”

Theodor, who pulled me closer, looked at the princess.

“I’ve already told you, I accept the annulment of the engagement. But it’s due to your infidelity, not my fault.”

Theodor’s hand was trembling slightly.

I touched Theodor’s hand, which was also trembling, and looked at him with encouragement.

“I’ve suffered a lot because of your infidelity. To be a suitable fiancé for the future queen, I have... I have dedicated myself to the royal family...”

Theodor, looking resentful, clenched his teeth.

“But that ends today. If my younger brother, Kurt, can take my place, let him try. I...”

Theodor’s grip on my shoulder tightened slightly.

“I will dedicate my future to Lady Cynthia, who has pulled me out of the depths of despair.”

“Brother, that’s disrespectful to the princess!”

Hearing Kurt’s shout, Theodor snorted.

“You and your schemes. You were probably planning to make me a criminal and push all the work onto me, weren’t you?”

That’s a common trope in villainous lady novels. Of course, such a terrible thing should not be allowed.

“Let’s go, Lady Cynthia.”

“Yes!”

The princess and Kurt were shouting and causing a commotion, but there was no need to look back.